Means for suspending bedclothes, &amp;c.



Nu. MSLWU. Patented may 22, I900. 8. W5. BRENNAN, PHEANS FOR SUSPENDING B EDGLUTHES, @w.

(Application filed Oct. 29, 1898.)

2 SheetsShee't I.

(No Model.)

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No. 649,990. Patented ma 22, I900. c. m. BRENNAN.

MEANS FUR SUSPENDING BEDCLUTHES, 61.6. IApplicntion filed oct. 29, 1898.) (No Model. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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5 i TE CHARLES M. BRENNAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,900, dated May 22, 1900.

Application filed October 29,1898. Serial No. 694,905. (No model.)

To (AZ Z 207mm it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES M. BRENNAN, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Sus pending Bedclothes, &c., of which Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention has for one object primarily to provide an improved means whereby the bedolothing may be suspended in such manner as to relieve the occupant of the bed from the weight of the clothes.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby a hot-water bag, an icebag, or the like may be suspended in proximity to the body of the occupant of the bed, thereby relieving the occupant from the weight of such articles.

The invention consists in the features of improvement hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my invention as applied in supporting the bedclothing of a bed. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section through the supporting-post and the suspension-arms, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of one form of supportingframe whereon the bedclothes will rest. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing how my invention may be applied to one of the side rails of an iron bedstead. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the bracket shown in Fig. 4:. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a supporting-frame, showing a hot-water bag suspended thereby. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the needle and the needle-holding socket. Fig. 8 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of the needle. Fig. 9 is a detail view, in vertical section, showing a modified means for retaining the needle in the socket.

A designates a supporting-post that is held in vertical position preferably by means of a standard B, that rises from a base 0, the standard being hollow to permit the post A to move telescopically therein and to be held in any desired elevation by means of the setscrew a, that passes through the threaded opening at the top of the standard B. Upon the supporting post A are mounted the suspension-arms D, (of which one only may be used, if desired.) Thelower suspension-arm is provided at one end with a coupling (1, through which the supporting' post A passes, the coupling d being provided with a threaded opening adapted to receive a set-screw d, whereby the arm D can be fixed at any desired elevation upon the post A. At the end of the upper arm D a coupling (1 is fitted, and this coupling is provided with a cap 61 that will rest upon the top of the supporting-post. The coupling d is formed with a threaded opening to receive a set-screw (1 whereby the upper suspension-arm D can be fixed rigidly with respect to the post A after the arm has been swung to the desired position. Each of the arms D carries means for suspending the bedclothing, a hot-water bottle, or the like. Manifestly a single arm maybe used without departing from the invention; but I prefer to employ two arms, as by this means the bedclothing may be suspended at different points above the body, or if there be two occupants of the bed the clothing may be suspended above each. It is preferable when two suspension-arms D are employed to form one of these arms somewhat longer than the other.

Each of the suspension -arms carries a socket or catch adapted to engage a needle that passes through the bedclothing, the head of the needle resting beneath and supporting the bedclothing. It will be within the spirit of the invention to employ any suitable means for connecting the needle-holding socket to the suspension-arm; but I prefer the means hereinafter described. Upon each suspensionarm D is mounted a coupling e, adjustable at different points along the arm by means of the set-screw c. To the coupling 6 is connected the upper end of a suspension-rod E, the lower part of which rod is provided with a socket f, adapted to receive the pointed end of the needle G. The socketf is preferably cone shaped at its mouth, so as to insure the easy entrance of the needle. Any suitable means may be employed for retaining the needle G within the socket f. Thus, for example, in Fig. 7 of the drawings I have shown the needle as provided with an annular groove g below its point, with which groove will engage the inwardly-extending end it of tho pivoted latch H, the opposite end of the latch H being thrust outward by coil-sprin g h, that serves to hold the pin h within the groove g of the needle G. Hence it will be seen that when the needle is forced into the socket f the point of the needle will ride beneath the pin h of the catch H until the catch enters the groove g of the needle and securely holds the needle in the socket. When, however, the catch H is turned about its pivot-point h by depressing its upper end against the coilspring h the pin it will be freed from engagement with the needle, and the latter will be permitted to drop from the socket. Another suitable means for holding the needle within the socket is illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings. In this modified form the socket is formed with a slot, through which will pass an eccentric K, having a handle 70, the eccentric being forced into engagement with the needle by a spring 70 as the needle is pushed into the socket. The eccentric will prevent the accidental slipping of the needle from the socket; but when the handle 70 is depressed the eccentric will be shifted so as to allow the needleto be readily withdrawn.

Theneedle will be passed upward through the bedclothing to be supported, and the weight of the clothing will be sustained by the head g of the needle. Preferably a spreader-frame M will be placed above the needle so'as to aitord a more extended supportforthebedclothing. lhespreader-frame shown in Fig. 3 consists of bent wire arms m, that are united to the central disk m, having a hole m through which the needle will pass. The shape of the spreader-frame may be va- I ried as desired. So, also, the spreader-frame maybe employed as a means for supporting a hot-water bag, an ice-bag, or the like, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, where a hotwater bag 0 is shown as attached by tapes 0 to the spreader-frame M.

In order to prevent the needle dropping from the spreader-frame when the needle has been released from the socket, I prefer to provide the needle with a spring g (see Fig. 8,)

I one end of which is fixed to the needle, while the other end sets within a groove in the needle, so as not to permit the ready passage of the needle through the bedclothing. The spring g is bowed and extends at such distance beyond the side of the needle as to prevent the slipping of the needle through the hole m of the spreader-frame when the needle is released from the socket, although by slight pressure the needle can be forced through the hole of the spreader-frame, as the spring will yield sufficiently for this purpose.

By preference the suspension rod E is formed of two sections that are telescopically connected together, the lower section of the rod sliding into the upper section and being held at any desired position therein by means of a set-screw e that passes through a threaded opening in the coupling e at the lower end of the upper section of the connecting-rod.

The object in forming the suspension-arm E of telescopic sections is to enable the bedclothing to be held at a higher or lower elevation, as the occupant of the bed may desire, and it is manifest that by this means the occupant of the bed can, without any change of the main suspension-arms D, simply adjust the lower section of the suspension-rod E, so as to hold the clothes at the desired elevation. Instead of employing a base 0 for sustaining the standard B this standard may be connected, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, to a base-bracket R, adapted to be attached to one of the side rails s of a bed-frame. The side rails of ordinary bed-rails--such as are used in hospitals, for example-are of angular shape, as shown, and the bracketR is formed with a reverted arm r,havin g athreaded opening therein to receive a set-screw T,

whereby the bracket will be fastened in the desired position upon the bed frame, the upper arm of the bracket extending outside the bed-frame, so that the standard 1-3 will be free from the mattress.

It is obvious that the details of construction above set out may be varied within wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention and that features of the invention may be employed without its adoption as an entirety.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A supporter for bedclothes comprising a suitable post and means for holding the same in vertical position, a suspension-arm extending at an angle to said post, a needle provided with a part to support the bedclothes and a suitable catch or socket wherewith said needle is detachably connected,

said catch or socket being suitably united to said suspension-arm.

2. A supporter for bedclothes, comprising a vertically-adjustable post and means for holding said' post in vertical position, a sus= pension-arm extending at an angle to said post, a socket-support connected to said arm and provided with a socket or catch to hold the needle, and a needle adapted to pass through the bedclothes and enter said socket.

3. A means for supporting bedclothes, comprising a needle having an expanded part at its lower end or head, a socket to receive said needle and a suitable fastening for holding said needle within the socket and suitable means for supporting said socket at different elevations.

4. A means for supporting bedclothes, comprising a needle having a headed end, a spreader-frame through which said needle P es, the needle being provided with a spring to prevent its falling through the spreader-frame and a socket for receiving said needle provided with a catch for holding the needle in place within the socket and suitable means for supporting said socket.

5. A means for supporting bedclothes, comsocket and means for adjustably connecting said socket to said suspension-arm, whereby the socket can be held at different elevations, and a needle adapted to pass through the bedclothes and enter said socket and suitable means for retaining said needle Within said socket.

CHARLES M. BRENNAN.

Witnesses:

GEO. P. FISHER, J12, ALBERTA ADAMICK. 

